Folding feed trough or rack



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No ModeL J. 0. ATKINSON. FOLDING FEED TROUGH'OR RACK.

Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

ITNESSES .ZNVENTH Mum/ V477.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. 0. ATKINSON.

FOLDING FEED TROUGH ORRAGK.

Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

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I'TNESSES ma noms mus en.. mmnnno., wnnmcron, n. c.

(No Model.) I 3`Sheets--Sheet 3. J. O. ATKINSON FULDING FEED TROUGH OR RACK.

VUNITED STATES t PATENT OFFICE.

y JOHN O. ATKINSON, OF SOUTH CHARLESTON, OHIO.

FOLDING FEED TROUGH OR RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,112, dated September 9, 1890.

i Application iiled February 21, 1890. Serial No. 341,295. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LJoHN O. ATKINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Charleston,in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in Folding Feed Troughs or Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a portable folding ro feed trough and rack for feeding cattle, sheep, r and stock with hay, fodder, shock-corn, millfeed, and all kinds of small grain.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents an end and Fig. 2 a transverse Y sectional elevation showing my rack or trough arranged in position for feeding ear-corn and 2o similar feed. Fig. 3 shows the same modified for hay or fodder. Fig. 4 shows the arrangement for shelled grain or soft ne feed. Fig. 5 is longitudinal sectional view with the interior feeding arrangement removed. Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 a plan of Fig. 34. Fig. 9 shows the device folded. Figs. 8 and 10 are details.

In said drawings, A represents the bottom )f said rack or trough.

3o B B are side portions or racks hingedto the bottom by pivoted connections a, which pass through posts a of the-side portions and the cross-bars a2 of the bottom or base A. The

side pieces B B are adapted to be turned on their pivoted connections ct, so as to lie in a plane parallel with the bottom A, (see Fig.

9,) and extend outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, or to be turned at right angles to saidbase or bottom A, as shown in 4o Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and dotted in Fig. 9. The

side pieces B B are each made in two sections B and B2, hinged together at b. The

upper section B is preferably made tight or solid, while the lower section B2 is open near the bottom, the uppersection B being adapted t0 fold inwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus form a hopper-shaped receptacle for feeding shelled or soft grain.

In feeding hay, fodder, or similar materials 5o the said pieces are arranged as shown in Figs.

1, 2, 3, and 5, the end pieces C being adapt-ed to be secured at eachend to the said side pieces at the top thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Resting on end pieces C and extending longitudinally along the top of the rack is a cover D, preferably made in two pieces hinged together, as shown, said cover being also pivoted at c to the end pieces C, a projecting plate c being provided on each of the end pieces C for this purpose. The respective parts of the rack are preferably connected together by means of hooks and staples d, by which they may be readily detached and changed to different positions to adapt the rack to different kinds of feed.

Extending longitudinally along the upper section B of the side pieces. B,I provide a small projecting strip or ledge e, and in each of the corner-posts a', I provide small hookshaped pieces e', adapted to turn in said posts to different positions, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10.

The bottom A is provided on each side thereof with an upwardly-projecting ange Aor strip A and extending longitudinally along the bottom A and adapted to t loosely in the base of the device are two adjustable strips A2 A2, adapted to be moved to different positions when feeding different materials.

In feeding hay or fodder I provide supporting-racks F. E, each composed of a longitudinal strip f and a series of transverse slats f.Y These racks E are adapted to be supported on hooks e', with the ends of the slats f resting under the ledge or projection e, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the ends of the rack E are supported considerably above the base A, and the adjustable strips A2 are 9o placed against the side flanges A. v .v

It should have been stated that the adjustable strips A2 are beveled slightly,l so that when placed inthe position indicated in Fig. 3 the base A is made slightly hopper-shaped, as shown. Hay or fodder or similar material supported in the rack upon the supports E F. is accessible to the stock through the lower side section B2. Any portion of the hay or other substance which falls-to the base A is retained by the adjustable pieces A2 and the side flanges, and may be reached by the stock and eaten without waste.

In feeding ear-corn the rack-supports E are removed. The adjustable pieces A2 are changed to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the thick edges being placed together, forming an elevation in the middle of the base,

, thus dividing said base into two slightly-hopper-shaped receptacles, which extend respectively from the center to the side flanges A. For the rack-supports E, I substitute the inclined supporting-boards E', each of which is provided at either end with supporting-legs g, adapted to rest at one end against the adjustable strips A2, and at the other against the side pieces B. The lower edge of the inclined side boards E stand a slight distance above the adjustable pieces A2 to permit the corn to pass under the same. X'Vhen thus constructed, the rack or trough may be filled with corn, which as it is devoured by the stock will gradually feed into the two receptacles on either side of the base A, in convenient position to be reached by the stock.

When it is desired to feed small grain or mill-feed or similar substances, the cover D and end pieces C are removed. The upper section B of the side pieces are turned down, as indicated in Fig. 4, the adjustable strips A2 being firstchanged to their original position against the side anges A. The upper sections B of the side pieces are made of such length that when folded down, as shown in Fig. 4, sufficient space is left between the lower edge of said side pieces and the base or iioor A to permit a small quantity of feed to pass through the opening thus formed. The upper ends of the posts a of the sections B are preferably notched slightly, as shown at a3, to fit over the edges of the adjustable strips A2, and thus hold said strips in their positions. By this construction a hopper-shapped bottom is formed, over which is a hopper-shaped receptacle formed by the side sections B B. The peculiar arrangement of the adjustable strips A2 in connection with these side sections permits the stock to eat the feed which passes through the opening under the side sections, while any escape or waste of the feed is prevented by the side flanges A. The end. pieces C are made to fit snugly against the end strips C', normally secured above the base A at the ends, and thus close up the ends of the feeding-rack when arranged as shown in Fig. 4. When the side sections B are turned upwardly, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, and the end pieces C correspondingly raised, additional pieces C2 and C3 are provided at the ends to close up the space thus left open.

I preferably use the hooks and staples, as before described, to secure the dierent parts in their positions, as indicated in Fig. l0, though, if desired, othermeans, such as bolts and screws, may be employed.

Vhen it is desired to fold the rack for transportation or storage, the parts are unhooked or disengaged and the lower sections of the `side pieces turned outwardly parallel With the base A, the upper sections being turned inwardly, as shown in Fig. 9. The cover or top is also turned outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 8, the other portions being placed in the 7o center of the rack and the cover then placed thereon, and all occupy but a small amount of vertical space for storage or transportation.

A rack as thus described is especially adapt- 7 5 ed for feeding sheep and small stock, though all kinds of stock may be successfully fed thereby, the construction being such that it may be adapted for any kind of feed. The cover D is made large with projecting edges, 8o so that the material is completely sheltered from the Weather, and when once filled up it needs no further attention until necessary to be refilled.

Having thus described my invention, I 85 claiml. The combination, with the base, the folding sectional sides, and the detachable end pieces, of the adjustable strips adapted to be moved to different positions in said base to 9o correspond to the different positions of saidm folding sides, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the stationary base, the hinged sectional sides, detachable end pieces, and hinged detachable cover, of the removable supporting-racks, the longitudinal strips e, and retaining-hooks e, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a stationary base having side iianges, as described, the folding roo sides, detachable end pieces, and hinged detachable cover, of the adjustable strips in said base, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a basehaving the x05 side flanges, of the adjustable strips operating in connection with the side flanges to change the character of said base for different kinds of feed, and the hinged sectional side pieces, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a stationary base IIO and the side pieces pivoted thereto, said side pieces being formed in sections, the upper section of which is adapted to fold to form a hopper-shaped receptacle, as described, of de- 1 15 tachable end pieces adapted to be secured to said side pieces in either position of adjustment, a hinged detachable cover connected to said end pieces, and adjustable strips on said base adapted to change the character of izo said base to correspond to the different adjustments of said side pieces, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of February, A. D. 125

JOHN O. ATKINSON.

Ntnessesz H. E. BATEMAN, VW. H. BROWN. 

